Arch support



Z. FRIED ARCH SUPPORT Jan. 2, 1945.

Filed May 15, 1945 0w0 0 0w0n0 0w0 0 000000 000 0 0 0w0w0n0 0 00 0000 0000 00 0 0 0 0 0 Ill INVENTOR. 20!; 77W FRIED.

P197l719FxVf Patented Jan. 2, 1945 uurrso STATES PATENT orgies I 2,368,823

v Anon surron'r Zoltan Fried, NewlYork, N. Y.- Application May 15, 1.(9c4:,3s6i.l::)N:0. 487,077

2Claims.

This invention relates to foot supports and particularly to arch supports and to a method of producing the same.

It is an object of the present invention to provide method and means for producing arch supports ins. very simple,- economical and eflicient manner, arch supports thus obtained being adapted to positively and invariably conform to the individual foot of the wearer.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an arch support which is very light in weight, unbreakable, but elastic'enough to follow movements of the foot and also to impart massaging effect thereto, the support further being durable since it never loses its shape and elasticity,.and avoiding detrimental effect due to perspiration on account of the material selected therefor.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an arch support which is made from suitable plastic substance or plastic composition which support according to the method herein contemplated can be made to measure, thus taking into consideration the defects and deformation of the individual foot of the wearer.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an arch support made from plastic material which overcomes all disadvantages inherent in lniown rubber and/or combination leather and steel arch supports.

Yet, a further object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing an arch support of the above nature, thereby fixing its shape and contour permanently. The impression of the individual foot to which the arch support is to be conformed may be taken within the shoe of the wearer or therewithout.

it is still a i'urther object of the present invention to provide foot supporting means whose v, underiace is so constructed as to prevent the same from being shifted or displaced within the shoe of the wearer.

These and other objects and advantages will be more apparent from the following disclosure thereof and the accompanying drawing which shows some of many possible embodiments of the invention and steps of the process employed for the manufacture of the new arch support.

Referring now to the drawing, which is illustrative ofthe invention, but in no way limitative:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a shoe with an arch support in place therein.

Figs. 2 and 3 are top plan views of two different embodiments of arch supports made in accordance with this invention.

Figs. 4 and 5 are respective bottom views of arch supports shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 6 shows one step in the process of preparing a mold for an arch support.

Fig. '7 shows the mold in process of preparing the plastic arch support in accordance with this invention.

In that embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 2 and 4, there is designated by numeral In an arch support made from a single piece ofplastic material or composition which corresponds to the particular arch of the wearers foot. As shown in Fig. l, the arch support [0 has a 10 forward part ii and a rearward part I2 which both terminate into respective relatively thin end portions, whereas the middle portion it of the arch support I1! is made thicker and sturdy enough to receive the weight of the person using the arch support.

. As shown in Fig. 2, the arch support it may be provided with perforations M in any appro= priate arrangement and configuration, the perforations 84 being preferably arranged at such portions of the arch support where perspiration of the foot mainly occurs. The perforations may be conical or of any other shape to facilitate air circulation between the foot of the wearer and;

' the insole of the shoe. The underface it of the arch support has roughened parts is and H to ensure a firm gripping of the arch support when insertedin the shoe it and may have a supporting rib is for reinforcing inner edge 2% of middie portion 93 of the arch support and to further improve air circulation all around the arch supportit, due to the hollow 2i thus provided.

In some cases, ledge orrib 69 may be omitted. Figs. 3 and 5 show a further embodiment of the invention in which the surface 22 of arch support 23 may be provided with or may have in- 1 corporated a'layer of any suitable graining substance or roughening material to improve the adherence of the foot of the wearer in its position on the arch support 23. From the intermediate or center portion of the arch support, there extend the tapered and grooved forward and rearward portions 25, 26, similar to those shown in Fig. 4. At the underface 24 and intermediate portion of said arch support, there are provided further reinforcing ribs 21, 28 and 29 which extend from longitudinal rib 30 which in turn is positioned at the inner edge and at the underface of said intermediate portion. Said reinforcing ribs 21, 29 interconnect said longitudinal rib 30 with the transversely directed rib 28, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. It is well understood that instead of the ribs 21, 28, 29 and 3|, any equivalent reinforcing or projecting means, such as spaced'projections or button-shaped tits or similar reinforcing members may be provided for the purpose hereinafter described. Perforations 34 similar to those shown and described in Fig; 2 may be provided to extend within the spaces between ribs 21, 28 and 29 and also adjaent t e hollows 32, 33 between the rearward 2 assasss part 2| and central rib II and forward part II and central rib ll, respectively.

As can be easilvrealized, the reinforcing ribs may form integral parts of the arch support, but the height of each rib may be varied, so as to finely and more accurately adjust the arch support to the shape of the shoe, as well as to the foot of the wearer. The change and adjustment of the height of the rib or ridge may be achieved by filing or grinding-operation. Furthermore, grooves maybe provided in the ribs for undisplaceably holding the arch support in the desired position within the shoe.

The new arch support may be uniformly made from a single piece of plastic substances, resinous material, cellulosic derivatives or any other suitable synthetic mass which provides for a certain elasticity, is resistant to the temperature of the human body as well as to the acids and perspirations'from the human body and which hardens on application of heat and/or pressure. The arch support may be molded and manufactured to fit average sizes of the walking surface of the human foot, but has also the advantage of being individualized by manufacturing the 1 same to conform to the particular dimensions of the defective human foot as applied either to' ausedortoanewshoe.

Inorder to produce the individual arch support according to this invention to be applied to the insole of a shoe, there is first placed a pliable, soft mass, such as wax material on the insole within the shoe and then caused an impression by the foot of the wearer of the shoe.

This wax pattern thus obtained may then be used to produce therefrom an arch support of plastic material in a mold, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. 1

To this end, the lower mold part 40 is filled with plaster of Paris 4| or similar formable material capable of hardening upon drying after a certain lapse of time. The wax impression 2 is placed on top of the plaster of Paris layer ll, so that a partial impression is caused in the upper surface of said layer ll. Thereafter, corresponding mold part 43 is 'fittingly placed on mold part ll and in a conventional manner. As a further step of the process'plaster of Paris is now poured from laddle 45 through opening 44 of mold part 43, whereby the remaining or protruding part of wax pattern 4! is covered and embedded by the plaster of Paris filling mold P rt 3.

Upon proper setting of the forming material ll, la in mold parts 40 and ll, the wax may be removed by application of heat, thus producing a hollow 46 in the forming material 4!, a, which hollow may then be used to receive a formable plastic substance 41, as stated above, which conforms itself to the hollow 46 upon application of heat and/or pressure.

Pressure may be exerted by means of a pressure plunger, such as indicated by numeral 48, and heat may be'applied to the molds by any known external heating equipment. It is furumpossible to obtain from forming material ll-lla, metallic forming molds, whereby arch [supports according to this invention may be manufactured in mass production.

It is well known in the art to produce such metallic forming molds from starting material on which impressions have been previously taken.

For carrying out mass production, it is well understood that average sizes and dimensions for men's, women's and children's feet'are employed to obtain from such metallic forming molds standardized arch supports made from the aforesaid plastic substances.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of the process and article derived therefrom will be ,readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention'pertains; and while there has been described the principles of the process which may be considered to be the best embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the process described is merely illustrative and that suchchanges may be made as are within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to secure by'Letters Patent, is;

1. An arch support-comprising a body made from a single piece of resinous material susceptible of being resistant to heat, pressure and attack from perspiration, said body comprising an intermediate portion for supporting the arch of the foot and having an inner edge, a forward portion, and a rearward portion extending each from said intermediate portion, said intermediate portion being provided with perforations to ensure air circulation above and below said intermediate portion, first projecting means disposed along said inner edge on the underface of said intermediate portion, second projecting means disposed on the underface of said intermediate portion at the center part of and extending transversely to said first projecting means, and further projecting means arranged to extend diagonally between said first and said second projecting means.

2. An arch support comprising a body made from a single piece of resinous material sus-' said intermediate portion, a transverse rib at the center part of said intermediate portion, and diagonal ribs interconnecting said longitudinal rib and said transverse rib.

ZOLTAN ramp. 

